Not married to the mob, but related to it: NJ man faces tough climb in bid for casino license

‘Family’ ties at issue in NJ casino work request

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — A construction company owner with family links to the mob is trying to convince New Jersey to let him in on the casino business.

Joseph N. Merlino admits his father and cousin, Lawrence and Joseph Merlino, were both high-ranking organized crime figures.

But he says he’s done nothing wrong and is asking the New Jersey Casino Control Commission on Monday to let his Bayshore Rebar do such work.

The state wants to keep mob-linked construction firms out of the casinos business because of fears that they may divert funds to organized crime and cut corners on safety.

Merlino says “there’s no court to go to, to divorce yourself from a family.”

The hearing is to resume Friday.